Bicyclist Fatality Under Investigation in Garland

Six Dallas Police Department officers have been disciplined over their handling of the investigation into the March 15, 2025 crash that killed 25-year-old pedestrian Atianna Washington on West Northwest Highway in Dallas. The case involved Jaime Castro, who was then a Dallas senior corporal and president of the Dallas Police Association. Castro was listed in the original police report as a passenger in the Cadillac that struck Washington. An internal investigation ultimately identified 14 policy violations involving six responding officers. One sergeant received an eight-day suspension, two officers received shorter suspensions, and another sergeant and two officers received written reprimands. The disciplinary findings add another significant development to a case in which questions have persisted about how the original fatal-crash investigation was handled. Atianna Washington Was Killed on West Northwest Highway Washington was attempting to cross the 2500 block of West Northwest Highway on March 15, 2025, when she was struck by a black Cadillac. The roadway was described as dimly lit. Washington was unresponsive when the first Dallas officer arrived and was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later. Castro, who was serving as president of the Dallas Police Association at the time, was at the scene. Body-camera footage showed one responding officer recognizing Castro, greeting him personally, and briefly embracing him near the crash scene. Internal Records Found Problems With the Police Response According to internal records reported by The Dallas Morning News and NBC 5, investigators concluded that officers gave Castro preferential treatment and failed to promptly complete important investigative steps. The reported concerns included delays in conducting interviews and determining whether alcohol may have been involved. Those shortcomings became particularly significant because investigators later questioned information provided about who had actually been driving the Cadillac. The six officers disciplined in 2026 have the ability to appeal their discipline. Jaime Castro Pleaded Guilty to Making a False Statement Castro later retired from the Dallas Police Department and stepped down from his leadership position with the police association. In March 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a police officer, a Class B misdemeanor. According to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, the charge arose from a false statement connected to the fatal crash. Court records reported by local media indicate Castro had claimed that his girlfriend was driving the vehicle and that she had not consumed alcohol before the collision. As part of the plea agreement, Castro agreed to surrender his Texas peace-officer license, complete DWI classes, pay a fine, and serve one year of deferred probation. Importantly, Dallas police have not publicly identified who was actually driving the Cadillac when Washington was struck. Dallas County DA Said the Initial Investigation Was Incomplete The Dallas County District Attorney's Office later conducted its own Public Integrity Unit investigation. When announcing Castro's guilty plea, District Attorney John Creuzot said that, based on Dallas Police Department policy, the investigation conducted at the crash scene appeared to have been incomplete. Creuzot also said the shortcomings in the original investigation may have made it impossible to determine whether other criminal conduct occurred. That distinction matters: the later disciplinary findings concern how responding officers handled the investigation. They do not themselves establish who caused Washington's death or resolve every disputed fact surrounding the collision. Why the Original Crash Investigation Matters Fatal pedestrian cases often depend heavily on evidence collected within the first hours after a collision. That evidence may include: statements from the driver and passengers; witness interviews; alcohol or drug testing when legally appropriate; body-camera footage; dashcam video; nearby surveillance recordings; vehicle event-data recorder information; photographs and measurements of the scene; cell phone information when legally relevant; damage to the vehicle; and physical evidence showing where the pedestrian was struck. If those investigative steps are delayed or omitted, evidence may disappear and witnesses' memories may become less reliable. This case illustrates why an initial police report is not necessarily the final word about how a serious or fatal crash occurred. Families Can Conduct an Independent Civil Investigation A family affected by a fatal collision does not have to rely exclusively on the conclusions contained in the original police report. A civil wrongful-death investigation can separately examine physical evidence, witness testimony, video, electronic vehicle data, medical records, police body-camera footage, and other information. It can also compare later-discovered evidence with statements contained in the original crash report. The Wooley Law Firm represents families in Texas wrongful death cases and serious Dallas pedestrian accidents. Lost a Loved One in a Dallas Pedestrian Crash? The Wooley Law Firm represents families affected by fatal car and pedestrian collisions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. When questions exist about the initial crash investigation, a separate review may be necessary to preserve video, obtain electronic vehicle data, identify witnesses, review police records, and determine whether the available evidence supports a wrongful-death claim. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article discusses a fatal March 2025 collision, subsequent Dallas Police Department disciplinary proceedings, and a criminal case that resulted in Jaime Castro pleading guilty to making a false statement to police. The disciplinary findings do not themselves establish civil liability for Washington's death, and Dallas police have not publicly identified who was driving the vehicle when the collision occurred. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A 79-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross South Collins Street near Oram Street in Arlington. According to Arlington Police, officers responded to the 1400 block of South Collins Street after receiving reports that a woman in the roadway had been hit by a car. The woman was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Police said the driver who struck her immediately stopped, remained at the scene, and cooperated with investigators. The driver was not facing criminal charges at the time of the initial report. Police Say Woman Was Crossing Collins Street Investigators said the 79-year-old woman was attempting to cross Collins Street from west to east when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. Police said she was not in a designated crosswalk at the time of the collision. The victim's identity had not yet been publicly released. Being Outside a Crosswalk Does Not Automatically Resolve Fault Whether a pedestrian was inside a marked crosswalk can be important, but it does not necessarily answer every question about how a collision occurred. Investigators may still examine: the speed of the vehicle; roadway lighting and visibility; whether the driver was distracted; where the pedestrian entered the roadway; how long the pedestrian was visible before impact; whether the driver braked or attempted to avoid the collision; nearby surveillance footage; vehicle event-data recorder information; and witness statements. The fact that the driver remained at the scene and was not criminally charged also does not, by itself, determine whether civil liability exists. Video Could Be Important in a Collins Street Pedestrian Crash South Collins Street is a busy Arlington roadway lined with businesses, apartments, intersections, and parking areas. After a serious pedestrian collision, nearby business cameras, apartment security systems, dashcams, or other video may help reconstruct how the crash occurred. Video can sometimes show the pedestrian's location, the vehicle's movements, traffic conditions, visibility, and whether the driver had an opportunity to react before impact. The Wooley Law Firm has written more about how pedestrian accident lawyers investigate fault when someone is struck while crossing a roadway. Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Arlington This Collins Street crash is separate from the recent fatal pedestrian collision on westbound I-30 near Center Street in Arlington. Arlington Police report that pedestrian fatalities remain a continuing traffic-safety concern in the city. The department's current traffic-safety statistics list multiple pedestrian deaths in Arlington during 2026. Wrongful Death Claims After a Pedestrian Collision When a pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle, certain surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim if the evidence establishes that another person's negligence or other wrongful conduct caused the death. Potential damages can depend on the circumstances and may include losses related to financial support, companionship, mental anguish, and other damages permitted under Texas law. Families can learn more through our Texas wrongful death attorney page or our bicycle and pedestrian accident attorney page. Lost a Loved One in an Arlington Pedestrian Accident? The Wooley Law Firm represents people and families affected by serious pedestrian and motor-vehicle crashes throughout Arlington, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Texas. A fatal pedestrian collision may require review of surveillance footage, vehicle data, witness statements, roadway conditions, police records, and available insurance coverage. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article is based on preliminary information concerning a developing fatal pedestrian collision. Additional or different facts may become available as Arlington Police continue their investigation. Nothing in this article is intended to assign fault to the pedestrian, driver, or any other person before the investigation is complete. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A 57-year-old Odessa motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a Ford F-150 at 42nd Street and FM 1936 in Ector County on Saturday evening, September 19, 2026. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred at approximately 8:10 p.m. DPS identified the motorcyclist as Purvine Jerry Brett of Odessa. He was pronounced dead at the scene. DPS reported that a 2016 Ford F-150 and a 2014 Harley-Davidson Breakout were both traveling westbound on 42nd Street. Preliminary information indicates the motorcycle was traveling behind the pickup when its front end struck the left rear of the Ford. DPS stated in its preliminary report that the motorcyclist failed to control his speed. The crash remains under investigation. Motorcycle and Ford F-150 Were Traveling in the Same Lane According to DPS, the Ford F-150 was traveling westbound in the outside lane of 42nd Street. The Harley-Davidson was traveling in the same direction and same lane behind the pickup. The motorcycle then collided with the rear portion of the Ford. DPS also reported that Brett was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. That fact may be relevant to the investigation of injuries, but it does not by itself explain why the collision occurred or resolve every issue that could arise from the wreck. What Should Be Investigated After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash? Even when an initial police report identifies a contributing factor, a serious or fatal motorcycle collision may warrant a broader examination of the circumstances. Potential evidence may include: event-data recorder information from the pickup; motorcycle and pickup damage patterns; dashcam or nearby surveillance footage; witness statements; photographs and measurements from the scene; roadway lighting and visibility; braking or tire marks; the relative speeds of both vehicles; and the movements of each vehicle immediately before impact. Investigators may also consider whether either vehicle changed speed or position shortly before the crash. Preliminary DPS Findings Are Not the Same as a Final Liability Determination DPS's preliminary report states that the motorcycle rider failed to control his speed. That is an important investigative finding, but the agency also stated that the crash remains under investigation. In a civil case, responsibility ultimately depends on the complete evidence. Police findings can be important, but vehicle data, video, witness testimony, physical evidence, and other information may also affect how a collision is understood. There is currently no public information indicating that the Ford driver was cited or accused of wrongdoing. Motorcycle Crashes Can Result in Severe or Fatal Injuries Motorcyclists have substantially less physical protection than occupants of passenger vehicles. When a motorcycle collides with a pickup, SUV, or commercial vehicle, even a relatively brief impact can result in catastrophic injuries. The Wooley Law Firm has covered other serious motorcycle crashes in Texas, including a recent fatal motorcycle crash on Northeast Loop 820 in Fort Worth. These are separate incidents and are not known to be related. Questions After a Serious Texas Motorcycle Accident? The Wooley Law Firm represents people and families affected by serious motor-vehicle crashes throughout Texas. A motorcycle crash investigation may involve police records, vehicle data, surveillance footage, witness statements, roadway evidence, and available insurance coverage. For more information about serious roadway injury claims, visit our Dallas car accident lawyer page. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article is based on preliminary information concerning a developing September 19, 2026 fatal collision. Additional or different facts may become available as DPS continues its investigation. Nothing in this article is intended to assign legal fault before the investigation is complete. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.